Philosophy

Philosophy is both an intellectual activity and a subject of study. As an activity, philosophy seeks to analyze, evaluate, and often reformulate the ideas, principles and arguments by which experience is understood and explained and by which action is directed and justified. Philosophy explores every area of experience and behavior:  e.g., aesthetic, political, religious, scientific and moral. The writings produced by great philosophers are worthy of study as models of thought and as artifacts of historical influence and cultural significance. 

Courses offered in philosophy fall into three general groups:  broad introductory courses that cover a variety of topics, historical courses that study important thinkers, and special topic or field courses. Some offerings combine the latter two characteristics. Few undergraduate courses are intended primarily for majors. The BA program in philosophy has been approved for offering at OSU-Tulsa. Students may pursue work in philosophy as part of their general education, as a support to their major area of concentration, as a minor, as a major leading to a BA degree, as a second major, or in connection with a graduate program.

In addition to the standard Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, which offers three tracks (see below), the Department also offers two specialty options, Pre-Ministry and Pre-Law. The Pre-Ministry option includes required courses in Religious Studies, and students are encouraged to take counseling courses as electives. The Pre-Law option is flexible and allows students to incorporate relevant courses from departments such as Political Science, Economics, Finance and Business Communications

The standard Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy accommodates students of three sorts. The "general" track is designed for students who wish to explore philosophy as a general path to the refinement of their thinking, writing and speaking, and a deepening appreciation of the most fundamental and guiding ideas and values of civilization. It is a very flexible program, requiring two lower-division introductory courses, two upper-division historical survey courses and 19 hours of additional unspecified philosophy courses numbered 3000 or above. The "pre-professional" track is designed for students who wish to provide a philosophical foundation for their professional interests (such as law, medicine, business, public service). Though requirements are technically the same for these students as those on a general track, they are assigned a second advisor who helps to coordinate curricular and other activities for the best career preparation possible. The “graduate preparation" track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in philosophy. It requires an additional six hours of upper-division philosophy and mandates more specific courses than either of the other tracks. Students may shift from track to track at any time without prejudice.

A minor or a second major in philosophy will complement any other area of study. A philosophy minor requires 18 hours of unspecified philosophy courses, 12 of which must be numbered 3000 or above.